Vehicle steering spindle mounting



7 ,947. 1.. R. BUCRENDALE 2,421,007 r VEHICLE STEERING .SPINDLE MOUNTINGI 7 Filed March 6 .1944

w as 6 aienied ay 27, 1947 NT OFFICE 2,421,007 VEHICLE STEERING. SPINDLEMOUNTING Lawrence R. Buckendalet Detroit, Mich., assignor to TheTimken-Detroit Axle Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Ohio v 7Application March 6, 1944, Serial No. 525,22 1

This invention relates to a vehicle steering spindle mounting and inpart, constitutes acontinuation-in part of my pending application forpatent on Drive axles, filed January 6, 1943, Serial No. 471,494, whichissued January 15, 1946, as United States Letters Patent'No. 2,392,832.

In the above application I have disclosed front and rear wheelsupporting spindles having wheel hub receiving portions which arestructural counterparts of each other, so that the front and rear wheelhubs may be interchangeably mounted thereon. These wheel supportingspindles are of conventional type, and are required for theinterchangeable mounting of the wheel hubs; The front steering spindleis mounted upon the end of the front axle casing by trunnion assemblieswhich permit of the angular steering movements of said spindle relativeto the axle casing. Suchreceiving portion with the fixed rear wheelspindle, so that the front and rear hubs may be interchangeably mountedon said spindles. To

; the above end I employ a steering wheel spindle trunnion assembly andmounting of the inverted Elliott type and it is a major object of thepresent invention to provide an improved means for rigidly connectingone endof the trunnion to the spindle whereby the other end of saidtrunnion may be mounted in a plain bearing on the axle casing.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a'trunnionsupport detachably fixed to the spindle and having a smooth walled boreto receive a pre-shrunk trunnion pin. Thus, when the temperatures of thesupport and pin equalize and the pin expands, it will be frictionallylocked to the wall of the bore, without the aid of other mechanicalmeans.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trunnion pin having anextensive section thereof rigidly locked in the support and adequate totake care of all shearing stresses, so that the inner end of the pin maybe journalled in a plain bearing on the axle casing.

' It is a still further object of the invention to provide a simple andefficiently operating type-of 9 Claims. (Cl. 280- 96.1

' thrust bearing for the lower trunnion assembly to take care of thethrust load and facilitate the easy turning or steering movement of thewheel spindle -relative-to the axle casing. V

Itis also the-general aim and purpose of my present invention to providea compact trunnion assembly and mounting of comparatively small ingspindlewhich isprovided with my improved size which may beadvantageously used in connection "with the conventional type steeringspindle, in cases where the front vehicle axle is stationary as well aswhen said axle and front wheels are also driven by the vehicle motor.

Other subordinate objects-of the present in..

vention willbecome apparent from the following description and theappended claims when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one end of a front vehicle axlecasing showing one of the front wheels. mounted upon a conventionalsteertrunnion constructionand mounting; and,

Figure 2 is a similar fragmentary sectional view of the lower trunnionassembly showing analternative form of thrust bearing.

With further reference to the drawings 1 which similar'parts'have beendesignated bycorresponding reference characters, I have illustrated myinvention as applied to'the driven type of vehicle steering wheel, inwhich power is transmitted to the wheel assembly Ill from motor drivenfront axle l lthrough the universal joint l2 to the stub shaft l3. Thisstub shaft extends through a conventional type of tubular spindle Mwhich has a wheel supporting portion of identically the same externalcontour as the rigid non-steering supporting. spindle for the rear. vehicle wheel so that the wheel carrying hub may be interchangeablymounted on said spindles. Since the interchangeable wheel hubs are fullydescribed in my pending application above-identified, for the purposesof this explanation it will suffice to state that the wheel hub I5 isrotatably supported on the spindle M by the outer and inneranti-friction bearings l6 and I1, respectively, and is connected withthe stub shaft l3 by the cap member l8 splined upon the end of saidshaft and having an annular flange securely bolted to one end of the hubl5 as shown at ill. The wheel assembly Ill, together with the brake drum20, is secured to either side face of the hub flange 2| by a pluralityof stud bolts 22. p

The end of the axle casing enclosing the front axle H is of enlargedsemi-spherical form as indicated at 23 to provide a housing for theuniversal tom thereof with .In the upper opening 25 a trunfor rigidlysecuring in the mounting of the trunnion nion assembly joint i2. Theinner The housing 26 the aligned openings 25 and 25, respectively.

nion support 21 is tightly fitted and may be formed with the steeringarm 28. The support 21 has a flange 29 to seat against the boss 30 onthe wall of the housing 23 to which said support is detachably securedby a plurality of screws 3|.

The support 21 has a smooth walled cylindrical bore 32 which provides acomparativelylong bearing surface in which a hardened pre-shrunktrunnion pin 33 is fitted. The frictional fit between the periphery ofthe pin and the wall of the bore is preferably so great that it isunnecessary to employ akey or other mechanical means the trunnion pin inthe sup- I obtain this desired rigidity pin 33 in the support by firstfreezing the pin 33 in dry ice, or other refrigerant medium, to cause itto contract. The bore of the support 21 is of suclrdiameter that thecontracted pin when inserted has a sliding fit therein. When thetemperatures are permitted to normalize, the pin 33 will expand, andthereby become permanently and rigidly locked to the wall of the bore insupport 21. It will be noted that this substantially integral connectionbetween the pin and its support is circumierentially continuousi over anextensive axial section of the pin, thus distributing the shearingstresses more'or less uniformly along the pin so that adequateresistance to such stresses will be assured.

A trunnion support 3d is also iitted'within the lower openingZE inthe-wall oi the housing 25 and is provided with a flange 35 which isdetachably secured to the housing wall by the screws 36. Support 35 alsohas a central bore 31 in which the lower trunnion pin 38 is rigidlyfixed in the manner above described. 7

The end of the axle housing 23 is provided-with upper and lower alignedbores in which plain bearing bushings 39 are fitted. The inner ends ofthe trunnion pins 33 and 38 are respectively the bearing bushings 39. Itwill be noted that the part of each trunnion pin which is"fixed in thesupports 21 and 3%, respectively, is of greater axial length than thejournalled part of the pin mounted in the bushing 39. Therefore, whileadequately taking care ofthe shear loads with a trunnion pin of uniformdiameter throughout its length, I avoid the use of the relativelyexpensive ball or tapered roller bearings in the axle housing 23. By theuse of the. plain bearing, parts of relatively small size may-be usedand the trunnion pin assembly is greatly simplified. Thus, an invertedElliott trunof sufrlcientlysmall size may be employed so that it becomespossible to use a conventional type steering spindle corresponding tothe fixed rear port 21. Preferably.

wheel spindle, whereby the same wheel hub may be interchangeably mountedupon the front and rear spindles.

The upper trunnion pin 33 is provided with is provided at the top andbotaxle casing I axial bore 43 having a tapped open end to which alubricantfitting of conventional type may be connected for supplyinglubricant to said bore. The inner end of this lubricant receiving borecommunicates with the radial passage 4i through which the lubricant issupplied to the peripheral surface of the trunnion pin journalled in thebushing 39.

The lower trunnion pin 38 is likewise provided with a similar lubricantreceiving bore 32 and radial passage end through which lubricant issupplied to the surface of said pin journalled in the lower bushing 33.

The lower trunnion pin support 34 at the inner end of its bore 31 iscounterbored as at 44 to re- Figure l I have shown a thrust bearing ofthe anti-friction, ball or roller type, in which the anti-frictionelements 45 are arranged between and cooperate with the upper and lowerrace rings 56 and 41, respectively. The bearing. elements are maintainedin properly assembled relation by a suitable retainer 5.3 which seatsagainst the fiat face 59 of the boss on the housing wall 23 in which thetrunnion pin bushing 39 is mounted, and closely abuts the outparts abovedescribed, an excessive clearance exists between the upper bearing bosson the wall of the axle housing 23 and the opposed trunnion pin support21, one or more shims, indicated at sorted to reduce this clearance andrelative movement between the parts axially oi the trunnion pins.

In order to exclude the matter, a flexible sealing tached at its outeredge to spindle housing 24 axle housing 23. possible injury, a V for maybe attached to the flange 35 of the lower trunnion support 34 by thesecuring screws 36 for said support. r

In Figure 2 of the drawings I have shown a simplified form of thrusthearing associated with the lower trunnion pin which has been foundentirely practical for use in connection with my entrance'of extraneousboot 5| is suitably atthe inner end of the its inner edge to the Toprotect this boot against improved trunnion pin and support assemblyJ-In the illustrated embodiment of this thrust bearing, a hardened steelthrust washer or'rlng= 53 is rigidly fixed to the end face of thebearing by a plurality of rivet studs or pins 54, in abutting contactwith the outer-end of bushing 39. A similar hardened steel washer 55 ispositioned in the recess or counterbore 56 of the trunnion pin supportand rigidly fixed to said support by rivet studs or pins 51. Betweenthese thrust receiving washers 53 and 55, a plurality of thin hardenedsteel bearing rings 58 are interposed. Upon these superimposed bearingplates 58 substantially the entire thrust load will be imposed. As someof the lubricant supplied to the lower trunnion pin bushing 39 will findits way to the thrust bearing plates, excessive wear thereof is avoided.However, if after prolonged use, inadequate resistance to thrust load isindicated, screws 36 may be removed and the trunnion pin support 35detached from the spindle housing 24, and the worn thrust bearing plates58 replaced at nominal expense. I 7

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided avery simple, practical, efficiently operating and ruggedly constructedan trunnion assembly in an inverted Elliott type s steering spindlemounting. By the use of the upper and lower hardened trunnion pins ofthe same length and uniform diameter and rigidly locking the same intheir supports, in the mannerv above described, difficult and costlymachining operations are avoided. These novel trunnion pin and supportassemblies with the use of plain bearings in the axle housing permit theuse of parts of comparatively small size with extremely close couplingthereof with the steering spindle, so that front and rear spindles ofconventional form may be employed for the interchangeable mounting offront and rear wheel hubs. Also, as high unit shearing stresses in thetrunnion pins are avoided, permitting, the use of plain bearings in theaxle housing, this housing may be made of an inexpensive metal insteadof the usual expensive alloy housing metal heretofore used, and withequal load carrying capacity and durability. The elimination of theusual ball or roller type bearings in the axle casing results in afurther material reduction in production cost, and in view of the verysimple structural form of the trunnion pins and associatedparts, it willbe evident that maintenance expense will be negligible.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes whichcome within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the 1. In combination with a vehicle axle housingprovided in one end thereof with diametrically aligned upper and lowertrunnion pin receiving openings,-bearing sleeves lining said openings, asteering wheel spindle. diametrically opposed trunnion pin supportsrigidly mounted on the inner end of said spindle and positioned at theouter side of the axle housing, an elongated trunnion pin having themajor portion thereof rigidly fixed in each of said supports, saidtrunnion pins being of substantially equal. length and of the sameuniform diameter and each having a minor cylindrical end portion thereofiournalled by means of one of said sleeves in one of said openings inthe axle housing, and a thrust bearing between said axle housing and thelower trunnion pin support.

2. In combination with a vehicle axle housing provided in one endthereof with diametrically aligned trunnion pin receiving openings, asteering wheel spindle having ahousing member on its inner end fittedover said end of the'axle vmember and a steering wheel spindle having ahousing member on its inner end, one of said housing members fittingwithin the other, upper and lower trunnion pin assemblies, means fordetachably and rigidly mounting said assemblies on the outer housingmember with the trunnion pins in diametrically opposed, axially alignedrelation, said inner housing member having diametrically opposedopenings in the wall thereof and a plain bearing bushing in each of saidopenings, in which the inner end of one of the trunnion pins isjournalled, and a thrust bearing unit associated with the lower trunnionpin assembly and detachable therewith from its operative posi tion withrespect to said housing members.

4. In a steer drive vehicle axle, an'axle housing having an enlarged endportion provided with diametrically opposed trunnion pin receivingopenings, a steering wheel spindle, rigid diametrically opposed trunnionpin supports 0n the inner end of said spindle and positioned at theouter side of said axle housing, inwardly projecting trunnion pins fixedto said supports and having cylindrical bearing surfaces, plain bearingbushings within said trunnion receiving openings surrounding saidbearing surfaces, and a thrust bearing mounted between the support forthe lower trunnion pin and the outer side of said housing andsurrounding the lower trunnion pin.

5. In combination with a vehicle axle housing provided in one endthereof with diametrically aligned upper and lower trunnion pinreceiving openings, bearing sleeves lining said openings, a steeringwheel spindle, diametrically opposed trunnion pin supports rigidlymounted on the inner end of said spindle and positioned at the outerside of said axle housing, and an elongated cylindrical hardened metaltrunnion pin having an uninterrupted smooth peripheral surface ofuniform diameter frictionally non-rotatably locked in matching bores ineach one of said supports at its outer end and journaled at its innerend in said bearing sleeves.

6. In a steer drive axle assembly, an axle housing formed with axiallyaligned upper and lower bores having their common axis at a slight angleto the vertical plane of the wheel supporting said axle assembly,bearing sleeves lining said bores. a wheel supported spindle having aninner part extending over said axle housing formed with cylindricalbores each adjacent and axially aligned with one of said bores 0n theaxle hous ing, and elongated cylindrical trunnion pins of such length asto extend through each adjacent pair of bores, each pin having a majorportion of its length non-rotatably tight within the bore in saidspindle part so as to distribute shear stresses uniformly along said pinand having an appreciable but minor portion of its length journaled inone of said bearing sleeves.

'7. In combination with a vehicle axle housing provided in one endthereof with diametrically aligned trunnion pin receiving openings, atsteering wheel spindle having a housing member on its inner end fittedover said end of the axle housing, plain bearing bushings in said axlehousing openings, a pair of trunnion supports. means for detachablysecuring said supports to the wall of said spindle housing member indiametrically opposed relation to each other, trunnion pins ofcorresponding structural form and dimensions respectively fixed in saidsupports and having inner end portions ,iournalled in said bearingbushings, means forming an inner end recess in one of said trunnion pinsupports, and a thrust bearing positioned in said recess in closelyabutting relation with the outer end ,of the associated bearing bushingfor said trunnion pin.

. 8; In combination with a vehicle axle housing providedin one endthereof with diametrically aligned trunnion pin receiving openings, asteering wheel spindle having a housing member -on its inner end fittedover said end of the axle housing, plain bearing bushings in said axlehousing openings, a pair of trunnion supports, means for detachablysecuring said supports to the wall of said spindle housing member indiametrically opposed relation to each other, trunnion pins ofcorresponding structural form and dimensions respectively fixed in saidsupports and having inner end portions journalled in said bearingbushings, and a thrust bearing unit associated with one of the trunnionpins comprising hardened metal washers surrounding the pin and secured,respectively, to an inner end face of the pin support and-to an opposedface on the axle housing, and a plurality of superimposed, relativelythin, annular thrust receiving disks interposed between said washers.

9. In a vehicle axle assembly, a wheel supported spindle having upperand lower aligned trunnion pins rigid therewith and projectinginwardlytoward each other, an;axle housing journaled on said trunnions, and athrust bearing assembly between the lower portions of said housing andspindle comprising hardened metal annular members secured respectivelyto said housing and said 5 spindle and formed with opposing flatsurfaces surrounding the lower-trunnion pin, and a plurality ofsuperimposed free thin fiat annular members surrounding said lowertrunnion pin between said flat surfaces.

LAWRENCE BUCKENDALE.

REFERENCES CITED The following'reterences are of record in the file ofthis patent;

, Lambert Aug. 15, 1933 any

